In all the years I’ve lived in Davis, I can’t think of anyone who was loved by more people in town than Alex Matta.
Alex, a lifelong resident of Davis, died of cancer on May 1 at the age of 77.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. James this Wednesday (Aug. 26) at 11:30 a.m., with a Celebration of Life gathering immediately afterward at the Veterans Memorial Center until 4 p.m.
There will also be a Rosary at St. James on Tuesday (Aug. 25) at 6 p.m.
Everyone is welcome at all three gatherings.
I first met Alex years ago when he, as a Davis High School student, took a part-time job at Star Pharmacy in downtown Davis.
I knew right away he was an avid sports fan, with his very favorite team being the Blue and Gold warriors of UC Davis - known in those days as the California Aggies - who regularly performed Saturday night magic on Toomey Field.
Back then, the bible of college football was the annual Street & Smith’s magazine that gave a preseason rundown of virtually every team in the country, including the Aggies.
Street & Smith’s would hit the magazine rack at 9 o’clock in the morning on a specified Monday in June and by 3 p.m. it was sold out.
Alex knew I was as big a sports fan as he was, so he’d untie the bundle of Street & Smith’s and hide two copies under the cash register, then give me a call to come and pick them up.
I kept one for myself and walked a couple of blocks to give the other to Nino Pusateri, the biggest Notre Dame fan in town who lived on B Street just a first down or two from Toomey Field.
Then I’d head back to Star Pharmacy and talk football with Alex between customers until the cows came home.
Of course, everyone wanted to talk to Alex, so you pretty much had to take a number and wait in line.
I still have a tall stack of long-ago Street & Smith’s tucked away in a bedroom closet.
While I was sure I was Alex’s best friend in town because of the special way he treated me, it didn’t take long for me to realize I was one of hundreds, maybe thousands, who felt exactly the same way.
Alex was the one responsible for creating a fierce rooting section at Toomey Field known as the North End Zone and packing it with the most rabid fans in the Central Valley.
In one of the most memorable games in UC Davis history, the Aggies earned a berth in the 1982 NCAA Division II championship game in McAllen, Texas with a tense 19-14 semifinal win over North Dakota State.
The Bison had marched to the Aggie 8-yard line with a chance to steal a win in the closing seconds. The final play unfolded, predictably, in front of an incredibly noisy North End Zone.
When that final North Dakota State pass fell to the ground incomplete, it was almost as if Alex himself had batted the ball out of harm’s way.
Several NDSU players told me afterward about how critical those fans were in the final result.
Through the years, many of us would pick up the phone and hear Alex’s kind voice on the other end, advising us that some old alums were back in town and gathering somewhere downtown. Would we like to join the party?
Frequently, he was the one planning the gathering. Whenever Alex called, you knew it was going to be good news and a good time.
When word spread several months ago that Alex was in hospice, people came from far and wide to reminisce with their longtime friend for life.
When my turn came, Alex told me he had just awakened from a remarkably real dream where he was happily walking along a path with his mom and dad and legendary UC Davis head football coach Jim Sochor.
A dream that was soon to come true.
Social media was full of tributes to their dear friend.
“An Aggie through and through,” said Inez.
“Alex was one of the greats in Davis,” noted Todd. “What a kind, upbeat human being. He was one of the great ones who has helped so many with his kind-hearted soul.”
“Alex was a huge part of life in Davis for so many of us,” said Kathy. “And such a beautiful smile.”
“Such a kind soul,” said Dianna.
“Very sweet man,” added Kristi.
“We all have such fond memories from high school where Alex was a good friend to all,” said Marcia.
“Alex was one of those people you never forget,” noted Phoebe. “His kind, caring soul stood out from others.”
“The mold was broken when the Lord made Alex,” said Robert.
“A heart like no other,” said Liz.
“Impossible to have grown up in Davis and not known Alex,” said Ric.
“You were always so sweet and kind to me,” said Vicki.
“He was a pillar of our community,” added Lupe.
“You gave so much to so many,” said Nancy.
And on and on and on.
Alex Matta was an ordinary human being who lived an extraordinary life, always showing love to everyone the Good Lord put in his path.
He was the glue that held us all together as we came from so many different walks of life.
He touched our hearts and our very souls.
He will be fondly remembered, but can never be replaced.
Alex Matta was indeed one of a kind.
Thank you for sharing your life with us, dear friend.
Bob, thanks for the beautiful memorial for Alex. He truly was a kind, generous, thoughtful and wonderful human - a true gift. He was all things Davis & sports, had and made friends everywhere he went, he lit up rooms when he walked in with his radiant smile, had amazing historical memories to share, and you always felt uplifted when he was around. God Bless him, and thank you Alex for being a treasured friend.
Sorry to hear another great one has completed a touchdown